Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress": St. Andrew

November 30, 2013: St. Andrew, Apostle

Readings

Rom 10:9-18 All (Jew or Gentile) who call on the Lord of All will be saved. People need to be sent to preach so others can hear, believe, and call. Faith comes from what is heard, through Christ's word. How beautiful the feet of those who bring good news! Their voice has gone forth to all the earth.

Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 "The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just." or "Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life." The law of the Lord is perfect, trustworthy, right, clear, pure, true, just, precious, and sweet, giving refreshment, wisdom, joy, and light.

Mt 4:18-22 Jesus to fishermen Simon and his brother Andrew: “Come; I'll make you fishers of men.” They followed him. He called James and John; they left boat and father to follow him.

Pope Francis

To students and teachers: Faithful God intervenes in us, brings his work to fruition, requires our collaboration and bravery. Be protagonists, not just spectators, confronting challenges with strength and courage, not mediocrity or boredom. Cultivate big projects, not imprisoned by weak thought or lower standards. Be faithful to Christian principles; find courage to go against the tide.

To Patriarch of Constantinople, assuring intention to pursue relations, reflecting on their deep bonds: we share concern for those suffering due to violence, war, hunger, poverty, and disasters. Dialogue, pardon, and reconciliation are the ways to resolve conflicts. We must give common witness to spread the message of salvation and safeguard the right to express faith publicly and to be treated fairly when promoting Christianity.

"Gospel Joy 1.I" (Evangelii Gaudium drill-down), based on the start of Chapter 1 of his new exhortation (continuing my series), especially appropriate on this apostolic feast:

Church’s Missionary Transformation: As God called Abraham, Moses, and Jeremiah, God challenges us “to go forth,” discerning the path, leaving our comfort zone to reach all who need the Gospel. The Gospel joy is a missionary joy Jesus, the disciples, and the first converts felt—a sign the Gospel is bearing fruit. As Jesus went to other towns once seed was sown, let's always press forward. God’s word is powerful, as seed growing while farmers sleep; accept its unruly freedom that surpasses our thinking. Communion and mission are deeply connected. Go preach to all always and everywhere, without hesitation, reluctance, or fear, taking the first step, being involved and supportive, and rejoicing, seeking the fallen, welcoming outcasts, showing mercy, knowing God loved us first.

Let's become more involved, washing feet as Jesus did, getting involved in lives, bridging distances, abasing ourselves, embracing human life, touching suffering, taking the “smell of the sheep.” An evangelizing community is also supportive (standing by people, no matter how difficult), patient, persevering, faithful, concerned with fruit, and fruitful, not grumbling or overreacting when seeing weeds among wheat but rather finding how to let the word take flesh now and bear new life, however imperfect or incomplete, putting our lives on the line bearing witness to Christ. Our goal is to see God's word accepted and renewal revealed, not to make enemies. An evangelizing community is joy-filled, celebrating every step forward. The Church evangelizes and is evangelized through the liturgy, a celebration of the task of evangelization and the source of renewed self-giving. (1.I, 19-24; pp. 19-23)

Reflections

Creighton: Do I accept Christ’s loving invitation and the gifts he offers?

RC.net: Jesus chooses and uses ordinary people. Am I responding to God's call? Do I let Christ's light shine and show people gospel joy?

Universalis: St Andrew, fisherman apostle; St. Cuthbert Mayne, convert, martyr

Marian retreat, day 26 from Blessed John Paul II: Mary cooperated with Son's whole mission including suffering with him at the cross, sharing his redemptive love, entering specially into his mediation between God and us, upgrading her motherhood.